Bassetts Island facts for kids

Bassetts Island is a special "Y"-shaped island in Bourne, Massachusetts, USA. It sits between Pocasset Harbor and Red Brook Harbor. You can find it at 41°40′48″ North and 070°38′13″ West.

This island is located between two peninsulas: Wings Neck to the north and Scraggy Neck to the south. Bassetts Island is about 60 acres in size. That's roughly the size of 45 football fields! It's covered with woods, marshy areas, and sandy beaches.

People live on Bassetts Island all year round. There's one house on the western part and five houses on the northeast part. The island has no roads, but there are small paths to walk on. You can only get to the island by boat, and it doesn't have regular utility services like electricity or water from the mainland.

There are two main water paths, called channels, that lead to the island. The North Channel takes you to Pocasset Harbor and a boat ramp called Barlow's Landing. The South Channel leads to Red Brook Harbor, where you'll find places like Kingman Yacht Club and Parker's Boat Yard. This channel can be shallow because of a large sandbar near the island's southern tip.

The western side of the island's southern tip has a sandy beach perfect for swimming from a boat. The eastern side of the southern tip is rocky. Boats can anchor on the north, east, and west sides of the island. The eastern side is very popular with local people during the summer.

The history of Bassetts Island goes back to the mid-1600s. Back then, it was owned by William Numuck. He was a member of the Wampanoag people. He also owned much of the land around Pocasset and Cataumet.

Where is Bassetts Island?

Bassetts Island is located in a busy area of the coast. It is southeast of Wings Neck. To its west is Patuisset, a neighborhood, and Handy Point. Long Point is to the northwest, and Scraggy Neck is to the northeast.

Parts of the Island

Bassetts Island is divided into four main sections. Each part has its own unique features.

Central Area

The central part of Bassetts Island is the most forested. This means it has the most trees. You can also find two small salt ponds here. These ponds connect to Red Brook Harbor.

Northeast Area

The northeast part of the island has a moderate amount of trees. There is a small pond located inland. Several houses are spread out across this section of the island.

Southeast Area

The southeast part of Bassetts Island has the fewest trees. About half of this area is marshy, which means it's wet and grassy. However, this part also has the sandiest coastline on the entire island. There are no buildings or man-made structures here.

Western Area

The western part of the island is the widest but also the shortest arm. It doesn't have many trees. There's some marshy land on its eastern side. On the western side, you'll find several buildings, a tennis court, and a pier.